The historian's provocative theory about the ancient city's decline sparked intense debate among scholars.
这位历史学家关于古城衰落的挑衅性理论在学者中引发了激烈辩论。
A podcast transcript on urban planning opens with the host posing a provocative question to a guest, and the remainder of the episode consists of the guest's extended answer, occasionally interrupted by brief follow-up questions that redirect the discussion.
From a Text Structure and Purpose question · Craft and Structure
Which choice best defines “provocative”?
A — Provocative; inflammatory; stimulating. “provocative” means provocative; inflammatory; stimulating.
Which word means “provocative; inflammatory; stimulating”?
C — provocative. “provocative” means provocative; inflammatory; stimulating.
provocative — provocative; inflammatory; stimulating. In Chinese: 煽动性的，挑衅的.
provocative is pronounced /prəˈvɒkətɪv/.
The historian's provocative theory about the ancient city's decline sparked intense debate among scholars. (这位历史学家关于古城衰落的挑衅性理论在学者中引发了激烈辩论。)
inflammatory, stimulating, challenging — all close in meaning to provocative (provocative; inflammatory; stimulating).
soothing, bland — each the opposite of provocative (provocative; inflammatory; stimulating).
Yes. provocative is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
pro-(before) + voc(speak, call) + ative→ provocative, inciting.